5 Legal Movies Law Students Should Watch

Season 3 of How To Get Away With Murder ended last February and we know you’re looking for some good legal drama or law movies to keep your thirst for court cases satisfied. Studying law and legal matters can be a cycle of hell with a few breaks in between cases which is why shows and films like such serves aspiring lawyers and commoners who are interested with the profession alike right.

Whether you’re a law student, an aspiring lawyer, or merely an admirer of legal crime shows and films, you need to put your foot down and; make yourself some coffee and popcorn. Take a break from everything, sit back and enjoy a good courtroom drama.

Legally Blonde

The light-hearted and feel-good comedy showcases the upsides and downsides of getting to law school. Don’t take it too seriously though, since it’s a little over-the-top. However, it definitely takes us a peek on the difficult process of getting admitted to law school.

Reese Witherspoon totally owned the spotlight in her character, Elle Woods. One would likely skip this film due to it’s too “feminine” tone, it revolves around a woman who entered Harvard Law to pursue her ex-boyfriend after all. But there’s more to the surface; it’s just the icing on top of a cake.

12 Angry Men

The film is almost entirely shot in one room where 12 jurors deliberate on a case. Tension build up and dramatic preconceptions exist in courtroom drama. Though this film leans more on the jury-room drama, it still reflects the froth build up in court. In addition, the movie makes a great study for logical fallacies and the importance of paying attention to evidence points.

To Kill A Mockingbird

The Pulitzer Prize Winning classic American Literature was adapted into a film in the 60s, which like the book, later garnered a reputation in crime dramas.

The story is about how a prominent small-town attorney (Atticus Finch) who rose to defend a black man from a fabricated rape accusation by a young white woman. The narrative shines light on racism and how prevalent and destructive it is to a community; and why racism should be put to rest. Finch defended the accused as a trustworthy lawyer and a moral human being.

Gregory Peck led the film with his great and remarkable portrayal of Atticus Finch, the book and the movie’s small-town attorney. A story coming from a great book and brought to life with impeccable performances and direction, it’s safe to say the movie was an instant classic.

Erin Brockovich

Julia Robert took on the role of Erin Brockovich in the true to life movie of the title role. The narrative revolves around a struggling single mom who became paralegal and investigated a class-action lawsuit on the California multi-billion dollar corporation regarding the water pollution controversy—the effect on the people—entirely by herself. Erin’s ways of investigation and gathering information needed for the case is arguably realistic.

The trashy clothes and cocky manners donned by Erin and how she gets treated with little to no respect for it makes a riveting story of determination and perseverance. She bravely stomped on people’s prejudices of her.

My Cousin Vinny

Perfect for those entering and graduating law school, as well as for first-time lawyers curious of the workarounds of a courtroom procedure, My Cousin Vinny demonstrates accurate courtroom procedure. No wonder, since the director was a law student himself).

The movie is, to put it simply, hilarious. The chemistry between Vinny (Joe Pesci) and Mona Lisa (Marisa Tomei) will make you want to watch the film right after you just finished it. If you’re looking for A Few Good Men-type of law movie, this isn’t it. If you’re feeling stuck in a rut in law school, thinking whether you’d survive it or not, or if you just passed the bar exam, this film gets it right in illustrating where to start and how it is in courtrooms.

Know more similar films? Share your recommendations with us!

About the author: A huge fan of crime tv shows and films, Chie Suarez also has a knack for writing. She writes for Barwick Boitano Lawyers, a firm of lawyers and legal team offering expert advice and legal solutions to clients in Parramatta and Sydney’s western suburbs since 1991.